Tampa Bay Water outlines growth projects, pipeline and PFOS monitoring in regional update
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Summary
Tampa Bay Water told St. Petersburg council on Jan. 15 it supplies 209 million gallons per day to the region (28 million gpd to St. Petersburg), plans a surface plant expansion and a 26‑mile pipeline, and reported three sampling sites slightly over a 4 ppt PFOS guideline with treatment options under review.
Tampa Bay Water General Manager Chuck Carden briefed the St. Petersburg City Council Jan. 15 on regional water supply plans and emerging contaminants monitoring. Carden said the wholesale system’s current budgeted supply is 209,000,000 gallons per day (gpd) and that the city of St. Petersburg purchases roughly 28,000,000 gpd from the regional system.
Carden described the utility’s major capital efforts: expanding a surface water treatment plant from a current 120,000,000 gpd design to 145,000,000 gpd to add about 12.5 million gpd of capacity, development of a South Hillsborough well field (phased, initial 6 million gpd with potential future expansion), and a 26‑mile pipeline (3–5 feet diameter) funded in partnership with Swiftmud and Hillsborough County targeted for in‑service by 2028. He said the pipeline will connect to two Hillsborough County treatment plants and is intended to increase regional reliability.
On water quality, Carden reported recent sampling found three regional connection points—two in the Brandon area and one at a surface water facility—slightly over a 4 parts‑per‑trillion (ppt) parameter for PFOS (a per‑and‑polyfluoroalkyl substance). Tampa Bay Water will present treatment recommendations to its board in two weeks, he said.
Carden discussed supply constraints and alternatives including desalination, reclaimed‑water reuse and conservation. He cited the Waterwise conservation program, which aims to save 3,800,000 gpd by 2030 and recently surpassed 1,000,000 gpd in savings. Carden said conservation remains the cheapest option, but more costly projects such as desalination will become more likely as traditional groundwater supplies diminish.
Councilmembers asked about drought triggers and the potential for watering restrictions; Carden said the district may move to a one‑day‑per‑week watering schedule if conditions worsen, noting past demand drops following restrictions. The presentation concluded with staff offering to return for further briefings as project plans advance.
